Wouldn’t Section 4 be more reasonably interpreted to mean the government is constitutionally obligated to pay on the debt? In other words, other non-essential (not constitutionally mandated) programs would have to be sacrificed, if necessary, to continue servicing the debt? It seems to me the founders simply wanted to ensure the debt wasn’t written off by a political majority.
Absolutely.
The validity of the public debt, shall not be questioned.
In today speak? Don’t even Think we’re going to welch on the public debt. The US Shall Be good for it, period, ‘cause Nobody would have any faith at all in our Govt or private affairs if Congress just said, poof, all gone, yeah, we borrowed all that money from you but sorry, you’re outta luck.
The Constitution is a written document and as such its meaning doesn’t change, no matter how idiots like Nancy, Harry and Barry try to torture it.
14th was 1868. Uncle Sam spent a bundle on the war between the States and the South needed faith in DC and stable money if it was going to rebuild.
It was decidedly a promise to all parties concerned that they could trust Congress not to short sheet them.